NOTES FOR UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
Reason- the divine essence that
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF
Philosophy employs the inquisitive mind to
discover the ultimate causes, reasons, and
principles of everything.
Hence, the etymological definition of
philosophy “love of wisdom” could pertain to
the desire for truth by  formulating never
ending questions to provide answers toe very
inquiry about nature of human existence.   These three elements of our selves are in a
SOCRATES: UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH
LIVING 
For Socrates self is synonymous with the soul.
He suggests that reality consists of two
dichotomous realms: Physical and Ideal realms.
Physical realm – changeable, transient, and
imperfect.
Ideal realm – unchanging, eternal, and
immortal.
Socrates: Unexamined life is not worth living
For Socrates the essence of the self- the soul is
the immortal entity. The soul strives for wisdom
and perfection, and the reason is the soul’s tool
to achieve this exalted state.
The individual person can have a meaningful
and happy life only if he become virtuous and
knows the value of himself that can be achieved
through incessant soul-searching. One must
begin with the source of knowledge and
significance – self.
THE SOCRATIC METHOD
The so-called introspection, is a method of
carefully examining one’s thoughts and
emotions- to gain self knowledge.
PLATO: THE SELF IS AN IMMORTAL SOUL
INTRODUCES THE THREE-PART SOUL/SELF:
1.
enables us to think deeply, make wise
choices, and achieve true understanding
of eternal truths.
2. Physical Appetite- Our basic biological
needs such as hunger, thirst, and sexual
desire.
3. Spirit or Passion- basic emotions such
as love, anger, ambition, aggressiveness,
and empathy.
dynamic relationship with one another,
sometimes in conflict.
Plato: The Self is an Immortal Soul
He believes that genuine happiness can be
achieved by people who consistently make sure
their reason is in control of their spirits and
appetites.
In this Theory of Forms, he introduces concepts
of the two worlds: the world of forms (non-
physical ideas), and the world of sense
(reality).
ARISTOTLE: THE SOUL IS THE ESSENCE OF THE
SELF
Aristotle believes that the soul is merely a set of
defining features and does not consider the
body and soul as separate entities. Soul is the
essence of the self.
The Soul is the Essence of the Self
He introduces three kinds of soul:
1. Vegetative Soul
- Includes physical body that can grow.
2. Sentient soul
- Sensual desires, feelings, and emotions.
3. Rational soul
- Is what makes man human. It includes the
intellect that allows man to know and
understand things.
ST. AUGUSTINE: THE SELF HAS AN IMMORTAL
SOUL
He is an African philosopher but he is regarded
as a saint by the catholic church. He integrates
the ideas of Plato and the teachings of
Christianity.
He believed that the body is united with the
soul so that a man may be entire and complete.
Nevertheless, he contemplates on the nature of
a man with the emphasis on soul as an
important element of man.
RENE DESCARTES: I THINK THEREFORE I AM
The French philosopher is the Father of modern
philosophy. He wants to penetrate the nature of
reasoning process and understand its
relationship to human self.
Self- Consciousness is necessary to have a
coherent personal (self) identity or knowledge
of the self as a person. Consciousness is what
makes identity of a person similar in different
situations.
DAVID HUME: THERE IS NO SELF
Scottish philosopher David Hume suggest that if
people carefully examine their sense experience
through process of introspection, they will
discover that there is no self. What people have
experienced are just bundle of different
perception.
If people carefully examine the contents of their
experience, they will only find distinct entities:
impression and ideas.
Impressions are basic sensations such as hate,
love, joy, grief, pain, cold and heat. These are
vivid perceptions.

The Latin phrase “ Cogito ergo sum” – “I think

therefore I am” is the keystone of Descartes’
concept of self. For him the act of thinking
about the self- of being self- conscious is in itself
proof that there is a self. He is confident that no
rational person will doubt his or her own
existence as a conscious thinking entity.

Two dimensions of the human self:

1. self as a thinking entity

2. the self as physical body.

JOHN LOCKE: THE SELF IS CONSCIOUSNESS

English philosopher John Lock, the human mind

at birth is tabula rasa, or a blank slate. He feels
that the self or personal identity is a
constructed primarily from sense experiences-
or more specifically, what people see, hear,
smell, taste, and feel. These shape and mold the
self throughout a person’s life.